Watercare unveils Wonder Wai Discovery Centre at Balmoral School

Today, year 5 and 6 students at Auckland’s Balmoral School became the first to explore Watercare’s new Wonder Wai Discovery Centre – an immersive experience designed to boost understanding of Auckland’s water journey, from sky to sea.

The Wonder Wai includes interactive games and models that take visitors through six key stages of Auckland’s water journey: rainfall, water sources, water treatment, household use, wastewater treatment, and water’s return to nature.

Watercare’s chief corporate affairs officer Meg Wiltshire says the Wonder Wai Discovery Centre is a fantastic way for the company to connect with its communities and spark curiosity about how water and wastewater are managed in an urban environment.

“Most of us – myself included before I came to Watercare – give very little thought to the journey water goes on before it comes out of our taps, and what happens to it when it goes down the drain. Wonder Wai will help to change that.

“It’s actually an incredible process, and Wonder Wai brings it to life in a really fun and accessible way. When people understand our networks, they’re more likely to use water wisely and take part in conversations about Auckland’s future infrastructure and climate resilience,” Wiltshire says.

Pictured above: Balmoral School students and Watercare chief corporate affairs officer Meg Wiltshire play Raindrop Rescue.

“It’s a chance to build people’s knowledge about how carefully we treat water in Auckland – ensuring it’s safe to drink straight from the tap. We want everyone to feel confident about the water they use and understand the infrastructure that makes it possible.

“Fun activities like our ‘What not to flush’ game are a fantastic way to share the crucial ‘3Ps’ message – only flush pee, poo and toilet paper to prevent blockages in the wastewater network and protect the environment.”

Balmoral School teacher Stephanie Slaven, who attended with her class, says her students were very engaged with the immersive activities.

“It sparked so many interesting conversations – especially about the amount of infrastructure and effort required to get water to and from your home. It’s an incredible learning experience.”

Pictured above: From left, Balmoral School students Ricky Alchin and Tom Wright explore the Waterwise House

The travelling visitor centre will primarily go to communities where Watercare is undertaking infrastructure projects, popping up at local events and markets, Wiltshire says.

“Given we are delivering a $13.8 billion investment programme over the next 10 years, our new discovery centre will be travelling all over Auckland.”

The Wonder Wai Discovery Centre is part of Watercare’s wider water literacy programme. This includes free in-school lessons delivered by qualified teachers to primary and intermediate students across Auckland.

Each year, up to 16,000 pupils take part in hands-on sessions that teach water quality, conservation, and how to protect local waterways.

These lessons align with the New Zealand Curriculum and help children become proactive water guardians – often inspiring positive changes at home too.

Secondary students have the chance to tour Waitākere Dam, one of five western dams that together supply 20 per cent of Auckland’s water. The 90-minute experience shows how water is sourced, treated, and delivered, reinforcing the importance of protecting our natural resources.

This weekend (October 11-12), people can experience the Wonder Wai Discovery Centre at BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival in Aotea Square. For more information about upcoming events, please visit watercare.co.nz/wonderwai